Following his recent visit to Arlington National Cemetery, former President Donald Trump is facing criticism for his conduct. Alyssa Farah Griffin, a former aide in the Trump White House, expressed that his actions have raised questions about his respect for the military, particularly for those who made the ultimate sacrifice.
Reports emerged that Trump’s staff had a physical confrontation with cemetery officials while trying to film and photograph in Section 60, where soldiers who died in Afghanistan and Iraq are laid to rest. U.S. Army officials later confirmed that a cemetery employee was “abruptly pushed aside” by a member of Trump’s team during this visit, which coincided with a wreath-laying ceremony honoring the 13 service members killed in a Kabul airport bombing.
Trump’s campaign has denied any physical altercation, branding the reports “a made-up story” from the Biden administration. In response to the scenario, Griffin emphasized to CNN that Trump has consistently struggled to grasp the meanings of service and sacrifice regarding the military. She advised that acknowledging mistakes could ease the ongoing controversy.
During the ceremony, Trump was photographed with the family of Staff Sergeant Darin Taylor Hoover, who died in the Kabul attack, reportedly with their permission. However, Trump’s actions have drawn ire from veterans groups and political commentators, including Jimmy McCain, son of the late Senator John McCain, who stated he would vote for Vice President Kamala Harris in the upcoming election.
In a post on Truth Social, Trump claimed there was no conflict at the ceremony and reiterated his criticisms of the Biden administration’s withdrawal from Afghanistan, labeling it “THE MOST EMBARRASSING DAY IN U.S. HISTORY!!” Federal law prohibits political activities on cemetery grounds, and the Army has confirmed it won’t pursue charges related to the incident.
Some Congressional members, like Representatives Jamie Raskin and Tim Kaine, have requested more details from the Army regarding the occurrence. Harris stated that Trump’s actions represented a disrespect to “sacred ground” for a political stunt, calling for all veterans, military families, and service members to be honored with the utmost respect.